Hatch cover and means for locking the same



NOV. 23, 1948. w, BEAUCHAMP 2,454,688

HATCH COVER AND MEANS FOR LOOKING THE SAME Filed Sept. 25, 1944 2 ShetS-Sheet 1 W/LFEED a Bt'QUII /QMP Nov. 23, 1948. w. A BEAUCHAMP 2,454,688

HATCH COVER AND MEANS FOR LOCKING THE- SAME Filed Sept. 25, 1944 I 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 23, 1948 HATCH COVER AND MEANS FOR LOCKING THE SAME Wilfred A. Beauchamp, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Ihe Youngstown Steel DoonCompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 25, 1944, Serial No. 555,730

This invention relates to hatch covers and means for locking the same.

It is an object of this invention to provide covers, particularly for covered railway hopper cars,

and means for locking the covers which are so constructed that one man can close and lock the covers.

A further object is to provide hatch covers and locking means therefor which shall eliminate or substantially reduce distortion of the locking means.

A further object is to provide hatch covers and locking means therefor which shall eliminate practically all projection of the locking means above the covers.

A further object is to provide hatch covers having locking members so constructed and arranged as to serve as handles for the covers.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of thisspecification:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan View of a covered railway hopper car embodying the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away, showing a hatch cover in locked position.

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section corresponding to Fig. 2 showing the cover closed and the locking member re-elased from its detent.

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section corresponding to Fig. 2 showing the cover closed and the locking member disengaged from its detent and in position to serve as a handle for raising the cover.

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section corresponding to Fig. 2 showing the cover partially open and the locking member out of engagement with its detent.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on line l--1 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I ll designates a portion of the side sheathing of one of the side walls of a covered railway hopper car. The sheathing I!) is secured in any desired manner to a side plate I l to which the roof E2 of the car is also fastened. Formed in the roof are a plurality of hatches l3. Secured to the roof l2 around each batch is a hatch frame l4 formed preferably of angle members as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, The running board for the roof is shown at 15. Ahatch cover [6' is pivotally secured to each 12 Claims. (Cl. 105377) of the hatch frames l4 as indicated at I! by means of bracket members l8. Each of the covers I6 is preferably formed of sheet metal which is turned downwardly to provide the peripheral flange I9. The peripheral flange of the hatch cover is spaced outwardly of the hatch frame I4 and carries an angle member 20 disposed in overlapping relationship with an angle member 2| fastened around the hatch frame in order to provide a seal for the hatch cover. It is to be understood, however, that any other form of seal may be utilized if desired or that the seal may be entirely omitted.

For the purpose of locking the hatch covers upon the hatch frames the instant invention pro- Vides U-shaped locking means 22 the branches 23 and 24 of which are pivotally secured to the free end of the hatch covers by means of the brackets 25 and 26 fastened to the peripheral flange of the covers. From Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, it will be observed that the brackets 25 and 26 project very little above the top of the covers. With particular reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will be clear that the relationship between the locking means 22 and the brackets 25 and 26 is such that the locking means is capable of serving as a handle for raising the covers.

A bracket 21 is secured to each of the hatch frames Id. The bracket members 21 are substantially T-shaped, the flanges 28 and 29 thereof being secured as by means of rivets to the hatch frames and the stem 30 thereof extending outwardly. As appears more clearly from Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, the stem 30 is formed so as to provide a detent 3i, which is'preferably camshaped, and which as hereinafter more specifically pointed out, cooperates with the U-shaped locking means 22 in order to lock the covers upon the hatch frames.

A shaft 32 extends across the hatch frames and is rotatably mounted in the stems 30 of the brackets 21 below the detent portions 3|. A plurality of'fingers' 33 and 34 are fastened upon the shaft 32 so as to rotate therewith adjacent to each stem 30 of each of the bracket members 27. Rotation is imparted to the shaft 32 by means of a lever 35 fastened thereto. The lever is adapted to be locked by means of a device indicated generally by'the reference numeral 36 fastened upon the roof I2. The lever locking means which is of a well-known construction permits locking of the lever in various positions thereof. For a more detailed showing of the lever locking means, ate tention :isl.invite'd toi applicants ,co-pendingam 3 plication, Serial No. 535,176, filed May 11, 1944, now Patent No. 2,433,084, Dec. 23, 1947.

In order to lock the hatch covers, they are swung to the closed position where they are supported upon the hatch frames M. The U-shaped locking means 22 for the covers will assume the position illustrated in Fig. 3 ofthe-rdra-wings. The shaft 32 is then rotated by means of thexlever 35 in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 of the drawings. During such rotation of the shaft, the fingers 33 and 34 will also rotate and the fingers 33 will engage the U-shaped locking means :22 forcing such locking means into locking engagement with the detents 3 I. The formationrofasuch detents as cams and the provision ofmeans for fastening the lever 35 in various positions thereof insures proper locking engagement .of the covers even though wear of the locking means or the detents, or both, may occur. The lever is then locked by the device 36 preventing rotation of the shaft 35. The fingers -33 lie in frontiofzthelocking means .22 and prevent accidental .release of ;the 10 cking means from the detents.

Iii-order to unlock the covers so that they may he-swung-to open .positiomthe shaft'32 is'rotated in opposite direction by means of .the lever .35. Rotation' isithus impartedito the fingers i33 and .34 and fingers 34 will (engage the :locki-ng means 22 and release them from :locking engagement with thedetents 3|. TheU-shaped locking means=22 may then be swun upivardly-aboutitheir pivots to the position shown in Fig. 4 Where they may be grasped by the hand in order to swing the covers open.

It is clear from the foregoing that the covers may be closed and :locked and unlocked and opened by one operator. -As a result of the .instant invention locking, unlocking and opening andclosing of the covers by a singleoperat'onmay he'obtained even if the covers beoome-distortediso that they do not properly rclose when supported upon the hatch iframes. Such a condition is illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.v lit {merely becomes necessary in this event :for the operator to step upon the hatch cover so asto move it in closing direction "until the U-shaped locking means engages the detent-31. Such engagement will retain the hatch :covers in 'this position whereupon the operator rotates the shaft :32 by means-of {the lever 35 to bring about engagement of the dii'1gers;33 with :the vlocking means and resulting locking engagement between the locking means and the-detents.

It will beiapparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be'olear :to those'skilled-in the :art. Itisi-ntended, therefore, that all such modifications and-changes he comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

'I'olaim:

i. In a covered railway hopper carihaving %a roof formed with a-series of spaced hatches rand hatch frames secured to .said roof around said hatches, covers hingedly secured to said rhatc'h frames. locking means pivotally fastened to the freerends of said covers, memberssecured to'said hatch :frames, :said members having locking idetents, a :shaft rotatably supported by said zmem here below said detents, a lever secured to said shafttf or'impartingrotation 'theret and a plurality :of sfingers secured to :said shaft adjacent -.to said idet'ents, said #fingers :lying on iopposite sides of and .being engageable-with :said locking :means :Silld. detents, members secured to said shaft adjacent to each of said detents for rotation with :said shaft, said locking means being engageable with said detents prior to the rotation of said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, said members engaging and swinging said locking members ,in'to'lockingengagement with said locking detents upon rotation of said shaft, whereby said series of covers may be closed and locked by one operator, and means for looking said shaft against rotation.

3. In .a covered railway car, a roof, .a ,seriesof spaced hatch frames on said roof, covers for said frames, locking means pivotally fastened to a marginof-eachof said covers, locking detents secured tosaid frames,.a rotatably mountedshaft extending along said framesmembers secured to said shaft adjacent to said detents for rotation withsaidshaft, said locking means being engageable with .said detents to lock said covers upon said frames, said members being adapted to .be positioned in front of said locking means upon rotation .of .said shaft to prevent disengagement of said locking means from said detents, a lever secured to-said shaft in spaced relation to said dotents for rotating said shaft, said lever being in ,a substantially horizontal position when said members .are in front .of said locking means, .and means for lockingsaid lever in saidposition.

4. In aoovered railway car, a roof, .a series of spaced hatch frames .on said roof, covers for said frames, locking means pivotally fastened to a margin of each of said covers, locking detentssecured .tosaid frames, a rotatably mounted shaft extending .along said frames, members secured to said shaft adjacent .to .said detents ,for rotation with ;said shaft, certain of saidmembers being adapted to engage said locking means with said detents upon rotation of said shaft in one directiontolock said covers upon said frame, the other members being adapted to release said locking means ,from said idetents upon rotation of .said shaft in theopposite direction, -a lever secured to said .shaft in spaced relation to said detents for rotating saidshaft, said ,lever being in a substantially horizontal position when said .covers are looked upon .said frame, and means for locking said ,lever in-saidposition.

5. In a covered railway car, a roof, a series-of spaced hatch frames onsaid roof, covers forsaid frames, locking means pivotally fastened to .a margin of each of said covers, locking detents secured to said frames, a rotatably mounted shaft extending along said frames, members secured to said shaft adjacent to said detents for rotation with :said shaft, said members being adapted to engagesaid locking means with said detent upon rotationof said shaft to lock-said covers upon said frames,:a lever secured to said shaft in-spaced relation .to-said :detents -for:rotating said shaft, said lever being in :a substantially horizontal position when said covers :are locked upon said frames, and means for-locking said lever in said position.

6. In a covered [railway car, a roof, a series of spaced hatch frames .on said :roof, covers forsaid fram s, locking, means p al y fastened to .a

margin of each of said covers, locking detents secured to said frames, a rotatably mounted shaft extending along said frames, members secured to said shaft adjacent to said detents for rotation with said shaft, said members being adapted to engage said locking means with said detents to lock said covers upon said frames, said members lying in front of said locking means to prevent disengagement thereof from said detents, a lever secured to said shaft in spaced relation to said detents for rotating said shaft, said lever being in a substantially horizontal position when said covers are looked upon said frames, and means for locking said lever in said position.

'7. In a covered railway car, a roof, a series of spaced hatch frames on said roof, covers for said frames, locking means pivotally fastened to a margin of each of said covers, locking detents secured to said frames, a rotatably mounted shaft extending along said frames, members secured to said shaft adjacent to said detents for rotation with said shaft, said members being adapted to engage said locking means with said detent upon rotation of said shaft to lock said covers upon said frames, a lever secured to said shaft in spaced relation to said detents for rotating said shaft, said lever being in a substantially horizontal position when said covers are looked upon said frames, and means for locking said lever in said position, said locking means constituting handles for said covers when released from said detents.

8. In a covered railway car, a roof, a series of spaced hatch frames on said roof, covers for said frames, locking means pivotally fastened to a margin of each of said covers, cam-shaped locking detents secured to said frames, a rotatably mounted shaft extending along said frames, members secured to said shaft adjacent to said cam-shaped detents for rotation with said shaft, said members being adapted to engage said locking means with said cam-shaped detents upon rotation of said shaft to lock said covers upon said frames, a lever secured to said shaft in spaced relation to said detents for rotating said shaft, said lever being in a substantially horizontal position when said covers are looked upon said frames, and means for locking said lever in said position.

9. In a covered railway car, a roof, a series of spaced hatch frames on said roof, covers for said frames, U-shaped locking means pivotally fastened to a margin of each of said covers, camshaped locking detents secured to said frames, a rotatably mounted shaft extending along said frames, members secured to said shaft adjacent to said cam-shaped detents for rotation with said shaft, said members being adapted to engage said locking U-shaped means with said cam-shaped detents upon rotation of said shaft to lock said covers upon said frames, a lever secured to said shaft in spaced relation to said detents for rotating said shaft, said lever being in a substantially horizontal position when said covers are looked upon said frames, and means for locking said lever in said position.

10. In a covered railway car, a roof, a series of spaced hatch frames on said roof, covers for said frames, locking means pivotally fastened to a margin of each of said covers, locking detents secured to said frames, a rotatably mounted shaft extending along said frames, members secured to said shaft adjacent to said detents for rotation with said shaft, said locking means being engageable with said detents prior to the rotation of said shaft, a lever secured to said shaft in spaced relation to said detents for rotating said shaft, said members engaging and swinging said locking means into locking engagement with said detents upon rotation of said shaft, whereby said covers may be closed and locked by one operator, said lever being in a substantially horizontal position when said covers are locked, and means for locking said lever in said position.

11. In a covered railway car, a roof, a series of spaced hatch frames on said roof, covers for said frames, locking means pivotally fastened to a margin of each of said covers, cam-shaped locking detents secured to said frames, a rotatably mounted shaft extending along said frames, members secured to said shaft adjacent to said detents for rotation with said shaft, certain of said members being adapted to engage said locking means with said cam-shaped detents upon rotation of said shaft in one direction to lock said covers upon said frames, the other members being adapted to release said locking means from said cam-shaped detents upon rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction, a lever secured to said shaft in spaced relation to said detents for rotating said shaft, said lever being in a substantially horizontal position when said covers are locked, and means for locking said lever in position.

12. In a covered railway car, a roof, a series of spaced hatch frames on said roof, covers for said frames, U-shaped locking means pivotally fastened to a margin of each of said covers, camshaped locking detents secured to said frames, a rotatably mounted shaft extending along said frames, members secured to said shaft adjacent to said detents for rotation with said shaft, certain of said members being adapted to engage said U-shaped locking means with said carnshaped detents upon rotation of said shaft in one direction to lock said covers upon said frames, the other members being adapted to release said U-shaped locking means from said cam-shaped detents upon rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction, a lever secured to said shaft in spaced relation to said detents for rotating said shaft, said lever being in a substantially horizontal position when said covers are locked, and means for locking said lever in position.

WILFRED A. BEAUCHAMP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 316,598 Beckwith Apr. 28, 1885 493,456 Violet Mar. 14, 1893 1,790,307 Kadel Jan. 27, 1931 2,226,683 Wolf et a1. Dec. 31, 1940 2,295,827 Breen et a1 Sept. 15, 1942 2,336,566 Pellnitz Dec. 14, 1943 

